A FOOTPATH at a popular beauty spot in Romsey could be closed from next week as part of a £6 million flood alleviation scheme.

Work on the Romsey Extra Footpath, running along the Causeway from Bypass Road to Sadlers Mill, could start from the week beginning Monday, June 8.

Now community leaders for the market town have revealed their thoughts on the Causeway potentially being shut off for eight weeks to ensure vehicles up to 26 tonnes can use the route.

Almost 200 properties in Romsey will also be better protected from flooding following construction of new defences in the town as part of the flood scheme.

Cllr John Parker, who represents Romsey Tadburn on the borough council, said: "It will be nice to get it finished and have the Causeway opened up again both for pedestrian and vehicle access.

"It has taken a lot longer than expected, but as far as I know there is still work that needs to be done to help direct water into the places where it should go."

He added vehicles could not access the route before due to there not being "high barrier rails either side of the bridges".

"The eight weeks to finish the work off will mean vehicles will not drive off into the river; at the moment drivers are having to use the temporary track that comes off the A27 so they can get to their homes," cllr Parker said.

Cllr Mark Cooper, who represents Romsey Tadburn on the borough council, added: "I like to think eight weeks is the maximum amount of time it will be closed for and I hope they can get get the work finished more quickly than planned."

The proposals were drawn up by the Environment Agency and Hampshire County Council (HCC).

A spokesperson from the Environment Agency said: "Almost 200 properties in Romsey will be better protected from flooding following construction of new defences in the town. 

“The increased flood protection, which is a complex engineering project, will provide significant support for Romsey should the River Test overflow, as it did in 2013, flooding 80 properties, and has done so several times in the last 50 years.

“We hope to re-open The Causeway as soon as safety measures are installed to protect those putting in the new defences.” 

As previously reported in the Romsey Advertiser, a spokesperson from the Environment Agency said the Causeway will be closed to allow their contractor to "install timber-clad barriers". 

They added: "These will prevent vehicles up to 26 tonnes from falling off the bridges over the spillways while working on the Romsey Flood Alleviation Scheme."

This comes after the Causeway was officially reopened to pedestrians on Friday, December 20.